General Chat

On Saturday evening, OH and I decided to go out for a meal, and it has taken until now, to be able to put into words, how I felt about it. We have not been able to go out much over the last couple of years, because I have alot of digestion problems, and have spent alot of time in and out of hospital. So we were being rather brave to make such an arrangement.
We chose a pub that has always in the past, had a good reputation. Off we went, nice drive through some lovely scenery, in me best cropped off trousers and lovely blouse, and a touch of lippy.
When OH orderd the food, he was told it would be about half an hour, which is just about reasonable, but my starter would soon be served, and after ten minutes it arrived. I had lobster on a bed of salad and pink grapefruit segments. Very nice, but could have been better if there had been a slice of brown bread as with prawn cocktail. Next I had ordered chicken breast in a lemon sauce, to avoid red meat, and I had already had fish. After an hour and ten minutes, I coulod feel myself getting very light headed, through lack of food. So, I stopped a waitress, told her how long we had waited for the mains, and explained that as a diabetic I could not wait that long for a meal. I also explained that if I did't get it soon, OH would have to ring the paramedics and get me to hospital, toot sweet. It appeared two or three minutes latter. However, I did not get a chicken breast, as described on the menu, but a chicken burger. I was too hungry to send it back, and wait again
Call me picky if you must, but I have been in the waitressing trade, in some better places than this was, though it is a nice country pub. But keeping people waiting that long is just not on, whether the person is a diabetic or not.
Also, the appearance of the young waitresses, was not what I would call 'up to scratch' and they had no pride in their appearance or work. I know they are only there to earn the money, but they could show a little interest in what they are doing.
When you go to all that trouble to get ready to go out at night you do expect better. Incidently, we were 'road testing' places go book for Christmas Day dinner. This one will certainly be off the list. We were so disappointed, because every time OH has had to drive me home from a stay in hospital,and we go past this place, we have always said we should try it.
Beginning to calm down now after my rant.
Julia in Derbyshire

That must have been very disappointing for you Julia. I do so hate the don't care attitude in some of these places. however, instead of putting your thoughts on here why not write to the management. i have done that before. Are they part of a chain, maybe the manager wants a bit of geeing up. If they told you 'about half an hour it should not have taken an hour and ten minutes, I guess they got the orders confused and out of order.
Sorry you had such a disappointing time.

Ann
Glos

Ann, no they are not part of a chain. We try to avoid those places, because you have been so used to what they were before, and are so disappointed in the new format. Also they use alot of 'catering pack' food on their menus. I like a nice chef, who knows what he is doing, and we are quite prepared to pay for that.
I think I will write to the licencee as I happened to see his name over the door as we went in
Thanks for reading my moan
Julia in Derbyshire

Oh Julia. Sorry you had such a bad experience at the restaurant.
I would certainly have complained to the management.
Perhaps their staff training should be brought to task, and also the appearance of the waiting staff goes a long way in 'making' a restaurant.

Hope you can manage to get somewhere nice for your Christmas Day dinner.

xx

Hello Up Front and Proud Vods, I was just glad to finish the meal and get away. I am going to write to the licencee, which he should acknowledge. By the way, we never saw anyone who faintly resembeled 'management', just all the young girl waitresses, and even the bar staff were young, though obviously over the age of eighteen, and run off their feet, with all dirty glasses stacked up on one side of the bar.
We have gone out for Christmas dinner to the same place for years, and though it is a beautiful meal in beautiful Dickensian surroundings and way out in the countryside, we thought we would give somewhere else a try. We stayed at home one year, but it was so miserable with just the two of us, we said never again.
Julia in Derbyshire

If its the case that they use pre made food,i/e cooked or warmed up in a "Microwave" its a probability he or she is only the Manager not owner and as such is,nt really bothered about customers only turnover,find a nice Country Hotel, might be expensive but usually well worth it.**M**.

Merlin, we much prefer the Country Hotel type of eatery, and don't like the type of place that belongs to a group, as they use the food as you described.
Meercat, Yeavely is abit far out from here to go for a meal, but sounds very nice. I am near the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border..
Julia in Derbyshire

Yes Meercat, I would say your not spiteful, in fact, thats just what I would do, and most certainly will in this case
Julia in Derbyshire

last year we, as a crowd of about twelve went to a pub/restaurant, and we were kept waiting and after several requests about the meal, were fobbed off, and after over an hour we were told that the order " had got lost"!! and would we like to re order?

needless to say we left, and found a indian establishment that was only too happy to take us on!!

Bob

Bob, many years ago, when I was in the waitressing trade, people were always served their 'mains' within twenty-twenty five minutes. Starters were served within ten minutes, and that was before the days of 'catering packs' and microwaves. We were taught to do silver service, and your 'dress' was examined before you went into the dining room to start work. This was not some big fancy hotel, but a series of country pubs. I have never had to wait over an hour for a meal.
Julia in Derbyshire

Karen, I totally and wholeheartedly agree with you, but sometimes wonder if my good grounding in the in the trade has made me somewhat 'picky'. However, I do think an hour and ten minutes wait, as opposed to the customary 20 mins. is becoming, sadly the norm. For me it is totally unacceptable, and should be discouraged by us all
Julia in Derbyshire